Success
Tacsat 2
Technology
Orbital Sciences Corporation(OSC)Commercial
Minotaur I
LEOorbit
Technology satellite for the US Air Force
Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 12:00 PM
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#4,812
OSC Mission
#51
Pad Launch
#1
Location Launch
#49
Designator
2006-058
Launch Window
NET
Dec 16, 2006, 12:00 PM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Launch Area 0 B
LP-0B became operational in 1999,and was subsequently upgraded in 2003 with the construction of a mobile service tower, which was completed in 2004. It is active, and is currently used by Northrop Grumman Minotaur rockets. The first launch from LP-0B was of a Minotaur I in December 2006, and was the first launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.
Total Launches
8
Orbital Attempts
8
Fastest Turnaround
2mo 13d
Minotaur I Specs
The Minotaur I launch system is derived from converted Minuteman II ICBMs and is used to launch small satellites for the US Government. The first and second stages, taken directly from decommissioned Minuteman missiles, are mated to the Orion third and fourth stages taken from the Pegasus XL air-launched rocket family. An optional hydrazine-powered fifth stage called HAPS can be used.The Minotaur I launch system is derived from converted Minuteman II ICBMs and is used to launch small satellites for the US Government. An optional hydrazine-powered fifth stage called HAPS can be used.
Length
19.21 m
Diameter
1.67 m
Launch Mass
36 t
Thrust
935 kN
LEO Capacity
580 kg
SSO Capacity
331 kg
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2000
Fastest Turnaround
4mo 8d
Total Launches
12
Successful
12
Failed
0
Consecutive Success
12
Maiden flight: Jan 27, 2000
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
Wallops Flight Facility is a rocket launch site on Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, United States, just east of the Delmarva Peninsula and north-northeast of Norfolk. The facility is operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and primarily serves to support science and exploration missions for NASA and other federal agencies. WFF includes an extensively instrumented range to support launches of more than a dozen types of sounding rockets; small expendable suborbital and orbital rockets; high-altitude balloon flights carrying scientific instruments for atmospheric and astronomical research; and, using its Research Airport, flight tests of aeronautical research aircraft, including uncrewed aerial vehicles.
Timezone
America/New_York
Local Launch Time
Dec 16, 2006, 7:00 AM
Total Launches
86
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
37.9333, -75.4678